July 31, 2008

 

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Siena women's soccer ranked fifth in the 2008 MAAC Preseason Poll as was announced by the league earlier today. The preseason rankings are voted on by the league's 10 head coaches.

Marist, last year's MAAC Regular-Season Champions, ranked first in the poll with 91 points. Siena came in fifth with 59 points. The Saints finished last season with an overall record of 8-9-1 and 5-4 in the MAAC.

Last year the Saints failed to qualify for the MAAC Tournament for the first time since 2003. That disappointment has the program hungry for a return trip. Should Siena advance to this year's MAAC Championships, they will be competing for their first NCAA bid on campus at the College's new artificial turf facility.

Siena has a young team, returning just four seniors and two juniors, but that experience comes at critical positions. Captains Chelsea Maguire (Ballston Lake, N.Y./Shenendehowa) at outside mid and Shana Brady (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) at center back add key experience along with senior goalkeeper Patti Carroll (Middle Grove, N.Y./Galway) who has 42 career starts in goal.

Several young players stepped up last season, none more than freshman Tabitha Tice (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius). Tice, a natural attacking midfielder, played and excelled as a forward last season. She led the team in scoring and ranked sixth in the league with 19 points. For her efforts, Tice was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie Team.

2008 MAAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll

1) Marist 91 2) Loyola 90 3) Fairfield 88 4) Niagara 60 5) Siena 59 6) Manhattan 56 7) Iona 40 8) Canisius 30 9) Rider 26 10) Saint Peter's 10